Discipline Areas of Research Strengths

Neuroscience & Cannabinoid Research

The research focus within this area is on somatic and visceral sensory and motor function in health and disease. This encompasses experimental studies on peripheral pain signaling, transduction and transmission and properties of sensory pathways in conditions characterized by inflammation or visceral hypersensitivity. This research looks at what happens at the molecular level to the functioning of sensory nerves, which of their functional properties change, how this correlates to changes in specific receptor populations and their interaction with visceral motor pathways, with a focus on identifying targets that may modulate nerve activity and therefore be potentially druggable targets.

Specific projects include:

1. An investigation into the properties of somatic and visceral sensory nerves following the development of tolerance and hyperalgesia in opioid treatments. Scott Smid

2. The properties of sensory and motor pathways to the human gastrointestinal tract - novel drug targets. Scott Smid

3. Cannabinoids as somatic and visceral neuromodulators. Scott Smid